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Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Life as Canadians have known it has changed after a terrorist’s rampage
in the nation’s capital and two soldiers being run down by a car in Quebec.

Canada has prided itself as a haven of civility with its government
buildings quite freely open along with easy access to politicians.

Giving Prime Minister Stephen Harper around-the-clock Mountie protection
and a major review of security on Parliament Hill are among the first measures.

This follows a rampage Wednesday by Michael Zehaf Bibeau, 32, who killed
a soldier at the National War Memorial and then ran through the halls of the
Parliament building shooting a rifle, wounding three people.

Harper
has drawn a link between the gunman’s actions and international terrorism.

“We
live in a dangerous world – we will be prudent, we will not run scared,” he
said.

It
is believed that Sergeant at Arms Kevin Vickers, 58, a former Mountie, shot and
killed Bibeau.

Martin Couture-Rouleau, called a radicalized Muslim, ran down two
Canadian soldiers in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., on Monday killing one of
them, before being killed by police.

Politicians,
police forces and intelligence officials are assessing security around the
Parliament, at Armed Forces bases and across the country.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Canadian fighter jets and surveillance planes are being prepared to head
into battle against Middle East militants to assist with a U.S.-led coalition.

Canada’s move – approved by the Conservative majority in the Commons – was
praised by former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton who spoke to a
gathering of 1,200 people in the capital, Ottawa.

“I
think military action is critical – in fact, I would say essential,” she said.

To assist with the coalition against the Islamic State of
Iraq and the Levant, Canada is pledging to commit the planes and support
personnel initially for up to six months.

The involvement by Canada faced opposition
from the New Democrats and the Liberals.

“Across
the world, it isn't just Conservatives – it’s Liberals and social democrats
that have understood that this is a threat that needs to be countered and needs
to be countered in many ways, including militarily,” Prime Minister Stephen
Harper said.